Prime Minister attends the Opening of the 2007 Canada Winter Games

Thank you and good afternoon.

Thank you Larry Smith, Canada Games council chair for that kind introduction.

It may be well below zero outside, but you can always count on a warm welcome in Whitehorse.

Over the next two weeks, this city is going to host one of Canada’s premiere amateur sporting events.

The Canada Winter Games are a celebration of our national athletic ideals:

dedication to high-level competition;

the spirit of fair play; and

the pursuit of excellence.

The Canada Games have embodied these ideals for 40 years.

Thousands of young Canadian athletes who embody these high ideals have participated in the games since they were first held in 1967 in Quebec City as part of Canada’s centennial celebrations.

Included among those thousands have been Canadians who went on to represent Canada in International competitions, including the Olympic Games.

These Canadian heroes include:

Catriona LeMay Doan;

Brian Orser; and

Rob Boyd. 

Not to mention speed skating legends Gaétan Boucher and Sylvie Daigle.

Your Games will carry on this great tradition.

A new generation of world-class Canadian athletes will emerge from the competition here in Whitehorse.

We’re all looking forward to watching you push the limits of athletic excellence, and in doing so, demonstrate the greatness Canadian athletes are capable of.
Standing on this stage, looking at all the organizers and volunteers, feeling the energy in the air, seeing the faces of our country’s best young athletes, I know these are going to be the most exciting Games yet.
 
It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to declare the 2007 Canada winter games officially open.